Messages About Kim
Read these 36 great letters about Kim!
Ever since I put up my Kim Zmekal webpage, I have received some wonderful mail from fellow Kim fans. They all express the same admiration and warmth towards Kim and I thought it would be nice for others to read what people have to say about our favorite gymnast. These are all real e-mails I have received. I've corrected some spelling errors and put in some punctuation (sorry, I majored in English) but besides that, the sentiments are all from the fans.
P.S. If I have put one of your
e-mails here and you want it removed, please let me
know.
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997
Well, I have AOL and it finally got a good browser. Through trying time and time again I
finally came across your wonderful page. Zmeskal Rules!
Date: Fri, 2 May 1997
Dear Valerie,
Hi my name is Sarah and I'm 16 years old. I was looking at your website of Kim Zmeskal and
I just thought I'd tell you that I think it's great. Kim Zmeskal has been my favorite
gymnast since I saw her win the US championship I think it was. I've always liked Kim
Zmeskal the best because I think she seems to be the most determined and mentally the
strongest athlete I have ever seen. I am also an athlete not a gymnast but I've played
softball most of my life I spent a couple of years in gymnastics and now I'm a hurdler on
my schools track team. Through all the sports that I have ever participated in I have
always tried to be as determined as Kim Zmeskal. I don't know if you care to hear that or
not, but I just thought I'd share my feelings about her.
-Sarah
Date: Mon, 12 May 97
Dear Valerie,
You created a wonderful webpage! I must say it is one of the best I have seen! I never really payed attention to Kim Zmeskal but you gave me so much information and it was really inspiring, in a very nice way. Kim got a lot of pressure and I know how much the loss in Barcelona hurt her. Thank you for taking the time to honor her. Gymnasts are so overrated nowadays and I am glad that you made a page for Kim, who deserves as much (if not more) attention than Miss Kerri or Miss Dominique. Once again, you created a wonderful page. Keep up the great work!
-maxine-
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997
Your Kim Zmeskal page is WONDERFUL!!!! It looks like you love her as much as I do! She is
my absolute FAVORITE! Are you a gymnast, or just a big fan? I'm a gymnast, and I really
appreciate your work on the page!
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997
HI
I was during a report on Kim Zmeskal and I notice your web site an love it . I am Brittany an I live in Mississippi . I took Gymnastics for 5 years and at age 10 I stopped I was OK not anything good . I tried To begin again but my grades got to low were my mom said you had to choose cheerleading or Gymnastic I wanted to do gymnastic more but I tried out for high school cheerleading AND I made it so I just stayed with cheerleading. I am in eight grade . I was wondering if I could help in any way with your web site I am really want to so please e mail back if you can help or even if you can't.
love BRITTANY
Date: Mon, 19 May 1997
I recently bumped into your page on netscape and I wanted to let you know that I agree with what was stated in your article about the dedication of Kim Zmeskal many of the same things occurred with Kerri Strug this past Olympics as well. I was saddened by the news that Hilary Grivich had been killed. During the 1992 Olympic Trials in Baltimore I had the opportunity to walk out both Kim and Hilary as the Texas flag bearer. By far they were both a model to every young gymnast. They were an inspiration to me...when I broke my leg three years later I thought back about Kim and her stress fracture during the Olympics and pushed myself to get back into the sport. Due to other injuries I forced to retire, but none the less it was Kim's determination that inspired me. It was sad that Hilary missed the final cut for the Olympics, she was very talented, and regardless of what place she was happy. In the heart of myself and many others, especially my level 4's I coach, Kim Zmeskal "Kimbo" and Hilary Grivich will remain forever present as an inspiration to what hard work really rewards us with....not medals and trophies but more like what was stated in last night's episode of Touched by an Angel "It's not the winning or the losing, but the getting up (perseverance) that counts." If only more parents and gymnasts would see gymnastics through the eyes of Kim and Hilary they would see why they (Kim and Hilary) dedicated so much of their lives to gymnastics......because it was Fun. Once again your tribute to Kim was well written and researched. I enjoyed reading your page, it caused me to remember back to the way I remember Kim and Hilary... Kim beating the odds to make the finals in Barcelona and Hilary's bouncy floor routine at the 92 trials. Those are permanently etched in my memory and will never be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Carrie Clark
Oxford, Maryland
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997
Hi I am also a HUGE Kim Zmeskal fan and I just checked out your web site, it's great. Too
many people were hard on Kim after the '92 Olympics, calling her a failure, and it had to
really hurt her. Before the Olympics, she was everyone's favorite gymnast. After she
didn't win the AA gold, she was a has-been. Not fair at all. Everyone thinks Kerri Strug
is so great for landing one vault on an injured ankle. Try landing dozens of them, plus
tumbling passes, with a nasty stress fracture like Kim had. She really is a great gymnast,
and she never once used her injury as an excuse. So many other athletes would've been,
"Oh, I could have won, but I had this injury..." Not Kim. I respect and admire
her a lot. There is a book out that I got about 3 yrs ago called "Kim Zmeskal:
Determination to Win" by Krista Quiner. If you haven't read it, you should, it's
great, it talks about Kim's career, her life, everything. Again, thanks for the web site,
there is really nothing out there about Kim! It's mainly about the Magnificent 7.
Melissa
Date: Sun, 01 Jun 1997
Hello. I am also a big fan of Kim's. I couldn't agree with you more that Kim was under too
much pressure during the '92 Olympics. I'll never forget all the hype the media was
playing. When the team was going over to Spain, I can remember wishing I could have gotten
in touch with Kim. I wanted just to tell her to forget what everyone is saying, that her
performance alone will not win the gold, and just do what she does best. I was crushed
when she faltered and that the media could have destroyed such a talented young gymnast. I
seen an interview with Kim, and she said that she didn't want to be remembered as the the
girl who fell, but instead as someone who did her best. I had no idea she had a stress
fracture until I saw your page. All I can say is Kim is one of the great gymnasts and I
hope that she will be recognized as such, even without an olympic gold- which shouldn't be
the only way we judge our athletes. Anyway, I admire your page, it's nice to see others
who acknowledge a great gymnast.
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997
Valerie,
I think your page is BEAUTIFULLY put together...and Kim would be very pleased if she saw it! She has been one of my favorite gymnasts...actually she would have to go behind the greatest gymnast at least to me, Dom Dawes. But Kim is so wonderful, determined, mentally and physically strong, and not to mention the 1st USA to win a World AA...and for that I have admired he for years...In 94' I had the honor of meeting her...however she was talking and saying "hi" to me when I could not say a word but cried and fainted....what could I do she was my idol since 1990 and then I get to meet her...it was unbelievable...I always thought she was some amighty god on a pedestal..and I still will leave her up there because that is where she belongs! Well you have a wonderful page and I know that anyone would be proud to have this page honoring them! Great job!
Thanks, Sam:-)
-In loving memory of Hilary Grivich 1977-1997
Date: Mon, 02 Jun 97
Kim is my all-time favorite gymnast! The first gymnastics meet I ever saw was the 1992
Olympic Trials, and afterwards I was amazed. I was obsessed during the Olympics. Everybody
complained that Kim Zmeskal didn't win the all-around gold, but she was so consistant for
so many years. You can't be perfect all the time. I'm so glad that you have this great
page on her! I have a link to it from my page, and I'm trying to put together a Kim
Zmeskal tribute. There's so much about Dominique Moceanu on the web, and she doesn't
really deserve it. Dominique, like Kim, also didn't meet expectation at the Olympics or
win any individual medals, but everyone loves her anyway. She used to be one of my
favorite gymnasts, but then she got full of herself. Dominique falling on her butt was
equivalent to Kim falling off the beam, but nobody cares about that because "Domi's
so cute!" (gag) Kim deserved all the hype she got- 3-time National champ (the one
American female ever to win 3, let alone consectutive; Shannon Miller only won 2- in 1993
and 96) Before that she was the Junior National champ. She was the current world
all-around champ and 92 beam and floor champ. She was awesome, but she had a sub par
Olympics. Moceanu won 1 individual medal on balance beam and 5th AA. She only won
Nationals because Shannon fell off the beam. Kim is an awesome athlete and totally
deserves a web page. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Trish
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997
Thank you so much for your web page. My boyfriend, and my friends also, think I am crazy
to be so obsessed with a 16 year old 1992 Olympian. I guess at 26 I’m not supposed to
be so enthralled with young athletes, but the truth of the matter is, that I gain so much
strength and determination from Kim Zmeskal. It is in that intense stare of hers, and her
drive to be that best that she could be. Her disappointments at the 1992 Olympics nearly
crushed me. To see her rise above it is such a testament to sportsmanship, and to self
determination. She has given me the bravado to do better at the things I do. And what I do
is a long way away from gymnastics.
However, she has also inspired me to try, at my late age, to return to gymnastics, a sport
I was forced to retire from at 16. The injuries I still have may keep me from ever
attaining this goal, but the lesson in willpower and fight that she exemplifies will
always be with me. Thanks for all the pictures. I keep them around my apartment to remind
myself of the incredible accomplishments believing in yourself can attain. I still think
that the innocence of youth also lends itself to believing you can do the impossible, but
if it can work for Kim, than maybe believing can work a little for me too.
Sometimes I just have to marvel at the sheer bravado of Kim. How can such fire live in
someone so young? I hope I will one day again be so young myself.
Susanne Williams
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997
I though you page was great!! Today I was watching my old gymnastics tapes that I haven't
seen since I quit gymanstics 2 years ago. I loved watching Kim and all her teammates.
Since I had not been following gymnastics for awhile I was not aware that Hilary Grivich
had been killed in a car accident. It was quite a shock and I feel horrible for all that
knew her. Also, does Kim have an email address? I have loved her and her gymnastics since
she fisrt began and she should always be remembered as the first woman in gymnast to win
the world championships. I loved all her " In the Mood" and "Rock Around
the Clock" routines. She is seroiusly the coolest gymnast ever and an inspration to
all....
Date: Tue, 05 Aug 97
Valerie,
Before going on any further, I would like to say that you have put together a wonderful
and magnificant site in honor of Ms. Zmeskal. Kim Zmeskal, in my opinion, will still have
a prominant place etched in the gymnastics history books as a valiant and determined
leader of the US team in the Barcelona Games of 92. I believe that media pressure was a
prime factor and reason that Kim was not able to exceed normal expectations in those games
and I think that if she were to have performed with the current Mag7 in 96, that teams
miracle would have been 1000 times greater than it actually was. Really by the simple fact
that Kim's leadership would not let a single one of those girls fold. She was and still is
the consumate hard worker and one of our country's better gymnast. Bar none and hands
down!
--Aaron
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997
Valerie,
Wow, I didn't know half of the stuff that's on your page about Kim, but thanks to your page I know all of the info I need! She sounds like an awesome person and I know that she is!! I have loads of respect for her and you can read it in a poem I wrote in honor of her at http://www.thewere.com/kimpoem.htm!! After reading your page, I'm thinking about doing an article on her, "Overlooked". She will always and forever be my favorite!!
Michael
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997
I loved your page on Kim Zmeskal. She is also my favorite gymnast and your page is a
wonderful tribute to her. Kim is an awesome gymnast and she should have been recognized
more after the Olympics. It is hard now to find info on her but your page did give me some
information. That's a cool idea about using "In the Mood" at your wedding. I am
actually using that for my floor routine music this season. I hope my routine goes over as
well with the judges as Kim's. = )
~Katie
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997
First i would just like to say - WOW! Your page on Kim Zmeskal is great! I didn't think
anyone loved(s) her as much as I do, but I guess I was wrong. I thought I was the only
person who would cry over her floor routine every time Ire-watch the '91 World's. I guess
I'm not alone. Your page is great and very accurate - Good Job!
Jenna Gleza BRLS, Brock University
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997
I LOVE YOUR SITE!!!!
I have always been a huge Kim fan, and I thought I was the only one that remembered her, but now that I got my computer, I've found so much stuff on her!!
Your page is the best!! Thank you for showing Kim as the great athlete she is!!!
Sarah
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997
Hello, Just looking at your web site. It's nice to know someone else loves Kim as much as
I do. In fact, I went to the Olympics last year and went to the AA. I was walking around
before the competition started and saw Kim waiting to get on the elevator. I had no pen or
camera and thought, "I'm sure this is a rough day for her and she probably wants to
be left alone." So I just looked at her and walked away. It was cool, though. I just
watched the Rock 'n Roll Challenge. She's awesome! I was really touched by seeing her
FINALLY show her emotions. Shannon was very sweet saying that she was really happy for her
and that Kim was her best friend. Kim truly deserved to win. Anyway, great page! Thanks
for honoring such a deserving champion.
Lainie Mazzullo
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997
Valerie,
I just got online a few days ago. Of course, I first thing I had to look up was Kim Zmeskal. Your web page is great! Kim Zmeskal is also my favorite gymnast and always will be. She has been my favorite since the first time I saw here on TV at the '90 Goodwill Games. She was awesome! I also saw her twice. Once at the '92 Olympic Trails in Baltimore and at the John Hancock Tour last year in Pittsburgh. I rode in an elevator with Kim's mother at the Omni Hotel in '92 during the trails. I would really appreciate hearing from another Kim Zmeskal fan. Thank you for your time and your web page.
Desiree
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998
Hi Valerie,
My name is Hakim. I feel the same way you do about Kim's physique. I love the shape and
strength of her legs. She's the shapeliest female gymnast I have seen in years. I love
her, and I'm glad I'm not the only fan who feels the way I do about her. This is a cool
sight. I'm glad you made it.
Thanks
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998
Love her too, since '90. Dedication to a sport, accepting hardships as a pathway to peace, exhibiting the true essence of gymnastics, the love of sport, enlightening to see, exhilarating. I am a professional ballerina. I respect artistry. Kim is an artist. Thank you Kim , you are a gift.
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997
Your page is great. I hope you don't mind but we put it on my page as an link about Kim since she is one of my favorites. I hope you can sometime come and look at the page and maybe you can give some in put, on what you think.
Pattie
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997
I loved your web site. Kim Zmeskal is my all time favorite gymnast! I think what she did was very inspiring to many gymnasts including myself. I just wanted to say that I think your web page is great.
Sincerely, Megan
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997
Valerie,
I was just sitting around watching tv today and I flipped to espn and there was the replay of the Rock N Roll Championships which featured some of the best gymnasts of our time. Then I was about to flip and the announcer said a name and my brain went fried. Kim Zmeskal who I haven't heard much about since the Olympics was back in action. I had to wait and see if I was remembering the name right. The woman I saw next to the name was not the same woman I remember at the Olympics. I guess a lot can change in 6 yrs but I was not aware of how much can change. She looks nothing like the little girl who stole the hearts of millions in he early 90's but a grown up beautiful woman, who looks like she has been hitting the gym. I haven't seen legs that powerful on anybody. I was amazed. If she does go to the gym then I want a copy of her leg workouts. But you have constructed a magnificent page about Kim. There are so very few people who have pages like this one. I was not aware of Kim's injured during the Olympics but the way that she came back and did such difficult routines and nailed most of them. There are very few gymnasts who can do difficult routines and nail them, but to do it with a fracture is unbelievable. I wont take so much of you time now nut this page should be considered a shrine. If Kim found this page, then she would personally write to you and tell you how great it is.
James Finn CPL., USMCR
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997
My compliments on your web page. A job well done!
I've been a stalwart fan of women's gymnastics for many years. Of all the gymnasts I've ever seen, Kim Zmeskal is the greatest! I, as I'm sure everybody did, felt for her during the '92 Olympics. I think that the pressure on her to win medals was just too much for her to have to deal with. But the young lady handled it with much class and dignity. She is truly special! I didn't realize just how special she is until I caught the '97 Rock 'n Roll Gymnastics on ESPN recently. Kim was beyond awesome! She showed us all that she still has it and then some! Her combination of beauty, power, and skill blew me totally away! I was also amazed by her beautiful muscularity. She hasn't gotten older; she's gotten better! Speaking of class, I was also impressed by Shannon Miller (frankly, I've never been unimpressed by Shannon M.!). At the end of the contest, she spoke about how glad and proud she was for Kim winning the R 'n R, and that they're best friends.
I hope that we've not seen the last of Kim Z., 'cause she needs to be competing! She has nothing to prove, but she owes it to us to continue to grace us with her beauty, talent, and class. God bless Kim Z!
Anthony
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998
Hi I absolutely LOVE your page. Kim Zmeskal is and always will be my favorite gymnast . I don't even remember the first time I saw Kim since I am only 13 now. I was really young. I think after she stopped competing for awhile I forgot her, but one day I found a newspaper clipping I cut out of her. It was of that famous moment at the Olympics in Spain, it was old and yellow by now , but I still had it, and I still have it to this day . I had forgottem her name but then I remembered it and looked it upon the net. There I found your lovely page . Thank You for creating such a wonderful page about such a wonderful gymnast .
Amanda
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998
Your letter to Kim was unbelievable!!!! It was well written and very eloquent. I feel that Kim Zmeskal is still one of the best gymnasts this country has ever seen.I hope that Kim happens to be on the computer one day and sees this, because I am sure it would brighten her day to see how much of an impact she has had on someone's life. Once again, good job on your letter...it was beautiful!!!!
Sincerely,
Chele
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998
I really love your page on Kim Zmeskal!! She is an awesome gymnast, as well as a hero. I totally agree that there are more important things than that medal that hangs around your neck. She showed that life goes on, no matter what has happened in the past, especially when it doesn't turn out the way you want it. She handled her misfortunes from the Olympics really well, and it takes a very strong person to overcome such circumstances. I truly feel her pain as I watch every clip retelling the story of her Olympic tale. Every time I see her fall off the beam in compulsories, It almost brings me to tears, because I know what could have been. In my eyes, she'll always be my hero.
Sincerely,
Amanda Jones
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998
I just wanted to say that I totally agree with you on the subject of Kim Zmeskal. Ever
since I saw her in the '92 olympics, she has been my hero. I am glad to find someone
who agrees with me on the subject and who actually knows who she is. Thank you for your
wonderful page!
-Tina
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998
I absolutely love the web site. Kim Zmeskal is my idol and I finally got to meet her in
February in Orlando, Florida. It was the most awesome day of my life. I got to chat with
her. She is now making a comeback for the 2000 Olympics.!!!!!
Date: Mon, 06 Jul 1998
Valerie,
Thank you for taking the time to create this web page for Kim Zmeskal. I can tell she is
quite an inspiration to you. Although I'm a dancer and not a gymnast, I have found Kim to
be inspiration as well.
I've watched her compete for years and years (i'm 22), and people kid me about how
emotional I get about the sport, like crying when Kim fell off beam in 92'. I also got mad
because I thought there was way too much pressure on her. There's no question it's not
fair. I almost feel like I know her after being a fan so long. She has a greatest
attitude, and I admire her for it. Always focusing on the present and future. I only
learned about Hilary Grivich's death on your letter page. If possible, could you let me
know what happened. I was shocked. she was such a wonderful gymnast. Once again, thank you
for
your page.
Margaret
Date: Tues, 02 Nov 1999
It is wonderful to click on my idol and find such a wonderful page. I was never able to become a gymnast but I held my breath as well during the '92 Olympics. I love Kim and thank you for doing such a wonderful page.
Kelia
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000
My dreams were shattered when I heard of Kim's marriage. I
met her twice in person and got a hug and kiss each time. I've been watching her for
so long I know nothing else. Oh well... some lucky man stole my gal. :(
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000
Hi Valerie,I just wanted to say that I loved your web page. I was one of those girls that Kim Zemeskal touched with her gymnastics. She was on top of the world when I became tuned into the sport, and her personality in all of her routines were immediately apparent and she became my favorite ever since. My friends and I were inspired by her to "do" gymnastics, and she inspired one of my college essays. I was really sad about what happened in the '92 Olympics, but what you said on your page was true. She conquered so much. She was the first American to have made it so far and her performance in '92 was just one of her many competitions. Though it was one of the bigger ones, it was not the only one. Who she is and what she has done is inspirational to me and I am sure to many other people around the world. Thank you for making this page for her.
Mindy Chang
Back to My